Mooney is considered to be one of the pioneers in the study of plant physiological ecology and has centred his work on research and the assessment of phenomena which affect global changes, such as ecological invasions, the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystems.
Thanks to his work, he has become an international leader in assessment projects at political level, on environmental problems related to climate change.
British researcher, Sir John Lawton, an internationally-renowned pioneer ecologist, has been awarded the 2nd Ramon Margalef Prize in Ecology. Lawton, the current president of the British Ecology Society, is the author of more than 300 scientific articles and has scientifically contributed to the advancement of ecological sciences, always seeking ecological standards and regulations by using the most advanced tools.
He has worked in a wide range of areas, such as the dynamics of populations and communities, interdependencies and interactions, biodiversity conservation, biological control in plants and animals and, more recently, he has studied the impacts of global change on communities of organisms and sustainable development.